Salsa y Salsas helps break tensions over immigration, Hispanic culture

With dancers, music and food from a dozen Latin cultures, organizers say events such as Saturday's 10th annual Salsa y Salsas festival help foster understanding and break the tension that has developed between Hispanics and the rest of the nation.

"This helps build bridges between cultures," said Rosa Garza of Citizens for Affordable Homes.

Raquel Knecht, former director of Nevada Hispanic Services, said the event helps non-Latinos see past the stereotypes.

"This is a positive event," she said. "People come out and experience this and they see that really we're all alike."

She said over the years, the event has drawn more and more Anglos.

Saturday's festival drew several thousand to enjoy the music and food and celebrate Mexico's independence from Spain 196 years ago. But Knecht emphasized that it's not just about Mexican culture.

"There are Peruvians, Salvadorans, Nicaraguans, Costa Ricans," she said. "The theme this year is Latin Flavor and there are 22 different Latin cultures."

J.R. Gonzales, former president of the national Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said events such as Salsa y Salsas are "instrumental in bringing down the cultural barriers."

"We're not that different," he said. "Everybody wants to have a quality life. Everybody wants to celebrate their culture. Let's work together to solve the real problems."

He said he objects to political attempts to use issues like immigration to divide the United States.

He said he is working with the Hispanic Chamber of Northern Nevada to not only support the growing numbers of Latin-owned businesses but to get the Anglo business community to understand they all need to work together.

With the Hispanic population estimated at 25 percent in Northern Nevada, he said every business has to realize Hispanics are their customers too.

Gonzales said the immigration debate is nothing new, that the same issues, same fears were raised when the Chinese, Irish and Italians arrived in the U.S.

"A lot of politicians pontificate and really don't understand the issues," he said. "This country is dependent not only on the immigrant work force. If not for the immigrant workers here, a lot of businesses would not be successful."

Saturday's event was an unqualified success with people of every culture stopping to watch performers, have lunch and talk. Dennis Liebl said this is the first time he has come to Salsa y Salsas.

"Folks who are participating seem to be having a good time enjoying each other's cultures," he said.

Linda Hawthorne, of Carson City, said the festival is an excellent way to bring people together.

"Everybody likes to eat, likes music," she said.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.